About us

We independently fund and support promising research in areas of great clinical need but where there is low investment, creating the conditions required to take the improvement of human health to new and exciting frontiers.

Warning: fraudulent emails targeting African nations

Emails continue to be sent to a number of individuals and organisations in French-speaking African Nations, in particular Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and now Mali, falsely purporting to be from the Medical Research Foundation.

Last updated

30/10/18

Share

Circulating since at least July 2017, these emails have been sent in the name of a Dr Rand James Frederick (or Dr James Rand) and most recently a Dr Nill Stefan (or Dr Stefan Nill). The emails claim the sender is the Chairman and Founder (sometimes also majority shareholder) of the Medical Research Foundation. An incorrect postal address is also given.

Typically, the email falsely claims that the we were seeking to establish a branch of the Medical Research Foundation in the recipient’s home country and require their assistance in its administration and seeking the recipients’ personal details and Curriculum Vitae. An alternative version claims it seeks the recipient's assistance in acquiring 'quinquenervia' - supposedly a rare, tropical plant used in the manufacture of antibiotics used for tackling cases of Avian Flu.

These emails are fraudulent and we believe the intent may be to obtain personal information or sums of money from those targeted. These emails have been reported to the appropriate authorities in the United Kingdom for investigation.

The Medical Research Foundation will never approach an individual or organisation in this manner.

If you receive any correspondence from somebody purporting to be from the Medical Research Foundation, and are unsure as to whether it is genuine, please report it to us via the Contact Us page on our website.